Add ability to back up files directory

This is a planned feature for version 2. I want to improve the db backup functionality before tackling that though.

R

Last time I looked at the code of the backup module, it required command line tools on the server, which is something I wanted to avoid in this module to allow for the most compatibility across environments. The main motivation for writing this module (rather than using Backup) is that Backup did not work in one of our primary production environments.

The functionality involved is doable using just PHP code, however, it'll just take a little longer to implement.

R

I'm marking this as postponed, because, even though I still like the idea, there's still plenty of work to do on the db-only stuff, and I'd rather the module do 1 thing very well then multiple things poorly. It's definitely not off the table, but it will be some time before I'm happy enough with the db backup functionality to put this at the top of the priority list.

Thanks
Ronan

Hi!

Add me to the list of people who'd like files to be backed up along with the database.

I'm currently using phpMyBackupPro that does that fine, but its not integrated in drupal.

You might want to check out http://sourceforge.net/projects/phpmybackup/ for inspiration

Best regards
Bjarne

Shortening the name to make it easier to find on the issue queue.

If anybody has any ideas and requests for this feature please post them here.

So far the requests are:
* Ability to add uploaded files to backups
* Ability to create 'snapshot' backups with only files added since last snapshot
* Ability to add modules/settings etc. to backups

Anything else?

So far the challenges that are making this task hard are:
* Need to bundle files (eg: tarball) without relying on command line tools (and hopefully without requiring PEAR installation or similar)
* Ability to backup any reasonably sized site's files within the standard PHP timeout
* The huge backup files that this will create and how to handle them

This is on my list but I don't want to do this hastily as the potential issues with the feature could quickly fill the issue queue with support requests if it is not done with care.

Any other comments or ideas on this?

Thanks
Ronan

Having implemented this in a one off way, the standard PHP timeout is a problem.
I was able to just crank it up to get what I needed this time.
But hoping to see a solution someday.

Subscribing

+1

Thanks for all you hard work Ronan! It is much appreciated!

subscribe

+1

Cool idea to implement ++1

If using server-side tools (tar, zip, other) would make it easier to add the feature, why not do that in a first release?

For fast incremental updates, would it be easier to use ZIP's -u switch? It could be a separate, quick-save option.

As for the time-out issue, it would be good if the script had a way to tell when it occurs, and suggest the user to disable file compression.

I am pleased to announce the Backup and Migrate Files module: http://drupal.org/project/backup_migrate_files

This module provides a plugin to Backup and Migrate that allows you to backup files. It requires the very latest (Aug-21-2009) 2.x dev of Backup and Migrate so if you want to help me test this new functionality, please install the latest dev of B&M and download the B&M Files module and let me know what issues you have in the issue list of the other module.

I am pleased to announce the Backup and Migrate Files module: http://drupal.org/project/backup_migrate_files

This module provides a plugin to Backup and Migrate that allows you to backup files. It requires the very latest (Aug-21-2009) 2.x dev of Backup and Migrate so if you want to help me test this new functionality, please install the latest dev of B&M and download the B&M Files module and let me know what issues you have in the issue list of the other module.

Woah!!! This looks great Ronan! Can't wait to try it out!

This would be great to dump a complete backup to a remote FTP!

Thanks for your work and submitting this!

I installed the backup_migrate_files module, added the three php files for PEAR in the \includes folder, enabled it. Yet when I go to admin/content/backup_migrate, I don't see anything added to the settings.
Where can I see the option to add the files to the backup?

Using the latest versions of each module with Drupal 6.13

Is this supposed to backup the \default\files folder only or the modules as well?

Thanks for the great module!

I have pear installed on my remote server. I installed BMF in the modules directory and enabled it in admin. I put Tar.php in modules/bmf/includes.

But when I go to 'backup/migrate' in my admin panel. There are no options for backing-up files at all.

Please help.

Thank you.

I have the option and sql backup works fine but files that are backed up are corrupted for some reason. I am not able to neighter restore them or even open directly from shell. Any ideas?

If you have issues with the Backup and Migrate Files module please open them on that module's issue queue instead of adding them to the end of this one, thanks.

why not just merge 'Backup and Migrate Files' module to this module? and 'Backup and Migrate Files' currently doesn't support D7.

I think there's no need to use 2 module for one backup.

@rogical - I totally agree with you!